New Giant Dinosaur in Brazil Reveals Ancient Links to Europe
Brazilian scientists have identified a new species of giant dinosaur, named Dasosaurus tocantinensis, which shows a close link to a similar species found in Spain. The discovery adds evidence that land routes once connected parts of South America, Africa and Europe around 120 mln years ago.
The fossils, found in 2021 near Davinopolis in Brazil’s northeastern Maranhao during infrastructure work, include a femur measuring 1.5 metres, suggesting the dinosaur was about 20 metres long.
Researchers, led by Elver Mayer of the Federal University of the Sao Francisco Valley, say Dasosaurus tocantinensis is one of the largest ever discovered in Brazil. Analysis shows it is the closest relative of Garumbatitan morellensis, indicating a European lineage that likely spread to South America via northern Africa before the Atlantic Ocean fully opened.
The dinosaur’s name references the Tocantins River near the fossil site.
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